His departure comes four days after the Colts left him behind in Indy on a road trip to Houston, and one day after he blasted the team and coach Chuck Pagano for demoting him from the starting job. Davis says he's been hindered by a preseason groin injury.

"I've been here six years, I've played hurt, we've had similar situations where these things happen and I never got confronted that [my] play slipped or none of those things," Davis said. "Obviously I was playing at a level that was acceptable [before], so now my play slipped."

Davis also took issue with being left behind before the team traveled to Houston, saying he felt "disrespected" by the decision.

In an appearance on "The Dan Dakich Show" on 1070 the Fan, general manager Chris Ballard called Davis's benching "a pure performance issue." Davis missed the first three weeks of the season with the injury, but had started every game since then until he was left home for the Texans game. Ballard says Davis never indicated the injury was still bothering him.

But Ballard isn't discussing Davis's release or the decision not to let him travel with the team last week, saying only that cutting him was "the best thing for the team." Pagano used similar wording with reporters at the Colts complex.

In his first five seasons in Indy after a trade with the Dolphins, Davis made two Pro Bowls and missed just three games.

Davis was acquired by the Colts from Miami in 2012.

In 120 career games (112 starts), Davis racked up 399 tackles, 97 passes defended, 22 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. His 76 games as a Colt are the fifth-most for a cornerback since the team moved to Indianapolis, and included 13 interceptions.